THE future of Upper Seagry’s only pub has now been protected after a villager’s campaign to turn it into an Asset Of Community Value was successful.

Andrew Ball is celebrating after his campaign to secure the New Inn, alongside Stuart Hancock, pubs officer for the North West Wiltshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, was accepted by Wiltshire Council earlier this month.

“We are a small village and the New Inn is an important part of our community and quite a lot of sports clubs and societies use it for their meetings,” said Mr Ball.

“In the backdrop of pubs closing nationally it seemed like a good idea to try and future-proof it for the village, meaning that the pub will be protected if a developer wanted to come in.

“I think it’s fantastic and it is important to say that it is a testament to the efforts of Andrew Lindsay and Lorraine Morrish, the landlord and landlady at the New Inn, because the pub is the best it has ever been and it has a great reputation.”

The Asset Of Community Value status now means that the

village will have the opportunity to purchase the pub should it be at risk of demolition or development at a later date.

Mr Hancock said: “The New Inn is a really good pub for the community and it helped that the parish council supported Mr Ball’s application.

“There are probably only half a dozen pubs with this status in the area and there are about 3,000 nationally so it’s quite rare to have.

“I don’t think there is a risk at the pub at the moment but it allows the village to secure the future of the pub for years to come.”